These Are the Best and Worst Times to Drive on Thanksgiving, According to AAA.
If you’re hoping to spend more time with your family and less stuck in traffic (or vice versa) this Thanksgiving, you may want to plan your trip around the busiest periods on the road.
The American Automobile Association (AAA) just released its annual Thanksgiving travel forecast , which predicts that just over 49 million people will drive more than 50 miles from home during this year’s holiday weekend. AAA defines the “Thanksgiving Travel Period” as the five days from Wednesday, November 22nd through Sunday, November 26th.
Air travel is also expected to be busy, with about 4.7 million people flying during the Thanksgiving holiday, up 6.6% from last year and the highest since 2005. Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday of Thanksgiving week tend to be the worst days for air travel. .
The best and worst times to travel for Thanksgiving 2023
AAA predicts that overall the busiest driving period will be Wednesday from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm, when traffic is expected to be nearly 11.5% higher than normal. In general, it is best to avoid congestion in the early morning or evening.
Wednesday, November 22
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Best time: before 11 am.
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Worst time: from 14:00 to 18:00.
Thursday, November 23
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Best time: before 10:00/after 17:00.
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Worst time: from 11:00 to 15:00.
Friday, November 24
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Best time: before 11:00/after 19:00.
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Worst time: from 12:00 to 16:00.
Saturday, November 25
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Best time: before 12:00.
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Worst time: from 15:00 to 17:00.
Sunday, November 26
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Best time: before 12:00.
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Worst time: from 15:00 to 17:00.
AAA also publishes forecasts for when major metro areas will experience peak traffic jams over the long weekend and along which routes. These forecasts vary widely: Atlanta, for example, is expected to see a 54% increase in traffic on I-20 E on Friday around 5 p.m., while the busiest I-5 N in Los Angeles is likely to be about 88% above normal. 16:30 on Wednesday.